Indonesia: Couple receive 100 lashes each for adultery; woman collapses in pain

In an Indonesian province, a couple accused of adultery were sentenced to 100 lashes each under strict Sharia rules.

According to the Daily Mail, the punishment was carried out on Thursday in Banda Aceh. The lashes were so severe that the woman pleaded for mercy and later collapsed to the ground in pain.

Aceh is the only region in Muslim-majority Indonesia where Sharia law is enforced. The province’s laws prohibit sexual relations between unmarried couples.

Caning is used as punishment for several offenses, including gambling, drinking alcohol, homosexual acts and sex outside marriage.

In footage of the public punishment carried out today, the woman can be seen suffering as she is struck on the back. She raised her hand in a pleading gesture, asking for mercy.

Other photographs show the moment the woman, after falling to her knees, was helped up from the ground. Images were also published of her partner, who showed signs of pain as he was being caned.

Local news outlet AJNN reported that the man’s punishment was temporarily suspended after the 60th lash due to concerns about his health.

Darma Mustika, head of the General Crimes Section at the Banda Aceh District Prosecutor’s Office, said: “Perhaps his health was somewhat poor, or he could not withstand the lashes. For this reason, we initially stopped the punishment so that he could rest.”

After the break, the caning resumed and the man completed his sentence of 100 lashes in total.

The two were among 10 people caned on Thursday. The other eight people, men and women, received sentences ranging from 16 to 21 lashes after being found guilty of mixing between genders during a birthday party.

In Aceh, these public punishments are intended to inflict not only physical pain but also shame on those who violate Sharia law.

The punishments are often carried out near mosques or in public squares, watched by crowds who follow and record the events on their mobile phones.